The East Kootenay stands a good chance of being represented in the 2020 World Junior Hockey Championship (WJC) in the Czech Republic.

Hockey Canada this morning released the names of 31 players invited to its selection camp for the upcoming Christmas season spectacle and Cranbrook’s Bowen Byram will be among those players vying for the 23 spots on the team.

Drafted fourth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, blueliner Byram is currently fifth in scoring on the Vancouver Giants with three goals and 14 assists in 24 games. The Giants are currently fourth in the B.C. Division.

Byram will likely anchor Canada’s defence along with fellow Western Hockey League star Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs. Lethbridge Hurricanes’ defender Calen Addison was also named to the camp along with fellow 2019 NHL draft selection Thomas Harley of Mississauga Ice Dogs (Dallas).

Hulking 2018 NHL draft selection Kevin Bahl of Ottawa 67s (Arizona), Jacob Bernard-Docker of North Dakota NCAA (Ottawa), Peter Diliberatore of Quinnipiac NCAA (Vegas), Jared McIsaac of Halifax Mooseheads (Detroit) round out the NHL drafted invitees. Defencemen invited who are eligible for the 2020 NHL draft include Braden Schneider of the Brandon Wheat Kings and Jamie Drysdale of the Erie Otters.

Up front, Canada will be led by likely first overall draft selection Alexis Lafreniére (Rimouski), and former Kootenay ICE star Peyton Krebs (Winnipeg Ice), along with fellow WHLers Dylan Cozens (Lethbridge) and Nolan Foote (Kelowna).

Following final cuts, Canada’s pre-WJC games will be played Dec. 19 and 23 against Switzerland and Finland.

The real deal gets underway for Canada Dec. 26 when they take on Team USA (11 a.m. Mountain on TSN).

Lead image: Bowen Byram of the Vancouver Giants. Canadian Hockey League photo

e-KNOW

---

Article Share

---